Sony reveals QX10 and QX100 camera modules for smartphones

Sony has announced a pair of mobile photography camera/lens modules, the QX10 and QX100. Both units are essentially self-contained cameras that can be controlled by smartphones, using Wi-Fi. The QX10 ($250/£179/€199) features a standard compact-camera 1/2.3" sensor and a 25-250mm equivalent zoom lens. The QX100 ($500/£399/€449) uses the 1" sensor and 28-100mm equivalent zoom used in its high-end RX100 II compact. Both are NFC-compliant to make connection to some smartphones even easier.

Although designed primarily for use with smartphones, both modules include their own batteries, memory card slots, zoom controls and shutter buttons, allowing their use remotely from (or entirely unconnected to) a phone.

What does this mean for mobile photography? Check out the links below to read connect.dpreview.com's take on the QX concept, and also a first impressions piece covering both modules and an in-depth look at the higher-end QX100 model.

NEW YORK, Sept. 4, 2013 – Merging the creative power of a premium compact camera with the convenience and connectivity of today’s smartphones, Sony today introduced two “lens-style” QX series cameras that bring new levels of fun and creativity to the mobile photography experience.

The innovative Cyber-shot® QX100 and QX10 models utilize Wi-Fi® connectivity to instantly transform a connected smartphone into a versatile, powerful photographic tool, allowing it to shoot high-quality images and HD videos to rival a premium compact camera. It’s an entirely new and different way for consumers to capture and share memories with friends and family.

With a distinct lens-style shape, the new cameras utilize the latest version of Sony’s PlayMemories Mobile™ application (available for iOS™ and Android™ devices, version 3.1 or higher required) to connect wirelessly to a smartphone, converting the bright, large LCD screen of the phone into a real-time viewfinder with the ability to release the shutter, start/stop movie recordings, and adjust common photographic settings like shooting mode, zoom, Auto Focus area and more.

For added convenience, the app can be activated using NFC one-touch with compatible devices. Once pictures are taken, they are saved directly on both the phone and the camera*, and can be shared instantly via social media or other common mobile applications.

“With the new QX100 and QX10 cameras, we are making it easier for the ever-growing population of ‘mobile photographers’ to capture far superior, higher-quality content without sacrificing the convenience and accessibility of their existing mobile network or the familiar ‘phone-style’ shooting experience that they’ve grown accustomed to,” said Patrick Huang, director of the Cyber-shot business at Sony. “We feel that these new products represent not only an evolution for the digital camera business, but a revolution in terms of redefining how cameras and smartphones can cooperatively flourish in today’s market.”

The new compact, ultra-portable cameras can be attached to a connected phone with a supplied mechanically adjustable adapter, or can be held separately in hand or even mounted to a tripod while still maintaining all functionality and connectivity with the smartphone. They can also be operated as completely independent cameras if desired, as both the QX100 and QX10 cameras have a shutter release, memory card slot and come with a rechargeable battery.

Premium, Large-Sensor QX100 Camera

The Cyber-shot QX100 camera features a premium, high-quality 1.0 inch, 20.2 MP Exmor® RCMOS sensor. Identical to the sensor found in the acclaimed Cyber-shot RX100 II camera, it allows for exceptionally detailed, ultra-low noise images in all types of lighting conditions, including dimly lit indoor and night scenes.

The sensor is paired with a fast, wide-aperture Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar T* lens with 3.6x optical zoom and a powerful BIONZ® image processor, ensuring beautifully natural, detail-packed still images and HD videos. As an extra refinement, the QX100 sports a dedicated control ring for camera-like adjustment of manual focus and zoom.

Several different shooting modes can be selected while using the QX100 including Program Auto, Aperture Priority, Intelligent Auto and Superior Auto, which automatically recognizes 44 different shooting conditions and adjusts camera settings to suit.

Additionally, the camera has built-in Optical SteadyShot image stabilization to combat camera shake, keeping handheld pictures and videos steady and blur-free. It has Program Auto, Intelligent Auto and Superior Auto modes to choose from, and will be available in two different colors – black and white.

Pricing and Availability

The new Cyber-shot QX100 and QX10 lens-style cameras will available later this month for about $500 and $250, respectively.

The cameras and a range of compatible accessories including a soft carry case and dedicated camera attachment for Sony Mobile phones like the Xperia™ Z can be purchased at Sony retail stores (www.store.sony.com) and other authorized dealers nationwide.

Please visit www.blog.sony.com for a full video preview of the new Sony Cyber-shot QX Series cameras and follow #SonyCamera on Twitter for the latest camera news.

Comments

Can someone tell me if there's any other option for Playmemories app that can be used with this DSC-QX10 & DSC-QX100 please. I'm trying to make burst shootings but I can't see any option in Playmemories app. Thanks in advance!

I have bought Q10.It fits my RazorMotorola very nice，like they were created to each other。Pictures from Q10 are much better！nothing to compare really！Only after the purchase I cared to read forums about this novelty，so many silly comments！BaliPeter！to muchshrooms....slow down..Consumers wait for solution：connect good displays to regular cameras。

Hello there, This DSC-QX10 & 100 has an built-in wifi network card that makes an wifi that makes possible to connect your smartphone to the lens wifi network and using the Playmemories app in IOS and Android, you can connect to the lens and see what the camera is aiming to. Inside the camera where the battery should be installed, there's a sticker that has printed the SSID and Password for the wifi NFC network of the lens. Hope this info can help you. Regards... Alero

I still put in doubt whether this type of camera is really practical. In principle, to use this lens / camera it takes two hands, one to hold the lens, one to hold the phone or tablet, it will not be practical in its true use. Many consumers call for practical things, which are lightweight and easy to maneuver. This type of device I doubt it's as practical as we want to convince. I find it interesting and innovative idea, but not practical for casual photography I think, and this context will be very hard to frame the image with some precision too. Perhaps more specific situations for its use is better exploited, but not a compact equivalent, such as for example RX100. The RX100 will in my view, more practical to use than this concept, or any other compact camera.

These devices, while new and prohibitively expensive for a lot of ppl, are important because they open up a lot of new photography potential, especially being able to mount and position the camera on a tripod or mini tripod in awkward locations and then control remotely UP TO 30 FT AWAY from the master control unit (smartphone) via NFC or wifi. I think a lot of ppl question the value because they don't understand these two components do not have to be in physical contact to actually work.

You do realize a couple of things: That these systems don’t have to be in physical contact with the smartphone running them? And that what you may think of as ugly is simply a clip that Sony has supplied? (I’ll bet the clip can be replaced with velcro if that suits your aesthetic.)

I think this idea portends interesting things in remote still and video shooting–particularly since the sensor from the RX100 is decent in lowlight.

Is this the final and only execution? No, likely not.

These modules don’t send raw data to the computer/smartphone for recording, which means that anyone interested in having a good small still camera at hand is going to have to carry something else, eg the Sony RX100ii, Olympus XZ2, or the very small raw capable Panasonic LF1.

Exactly, that's the revolutionary aspect of this technology. Some people don't seem to get that because they only see pictures of the smartphone and lens attached to each other, and assume that's the only way it can work.

my first reaction was that this is dum but Sonyalphrumors says that this just may be the most preordered camera in Sony's history. Many average people like using their smartphones, these cameras will put far better pics on their phones. They will probably be a lot of fun too since the screen and the camera don't need to be connected.

What nonsense. Wifi uses lower frequency wave length than visible light. Is visible polluting over environment too? What about the radio waves that come to earth from billions of other stars and galaxies? That must be pretty bad "pollution" (sarcasm).

I am always wearing a German spiked helmet of World War One because it acts as a Faraday cage and as a lightning rod too...I am happy, I have dropped one hook and catched two innocent fishes...I am a user of wifi technology too, you know...Apart from that, the nonsense is to believe pollution is only visible. Every electromagnetic wave that goes through our bodies induces current in our cells, superficially with micro waves, and deeply with long waves, with known and still unknown consequences.About radio waves from the outer space, their energy is nothing compared to an operating smartphone close to your naïve brain... To catch them, astrophysicians build huge parabolic antennas, not the ridiculous one in your smartphone. Energy diminishes with the reverse of the power of two of the distance. Radio technology is like alcohol : moderate use...

This is an incremental improvement in camera connectivity, but the real innovation here is in separating the lens from the viewfinder/monitor (I can come up with precedents, but not in this usage space). This opens up a world of possibilities beyond what articulated monitors offered in prior consumer cameras. The Sony video illustrated this well.

I think what we need is a full frame sensor on an iphone and extended collapsible bellows with anastigmat type lens - screw this, you can even make a 2"x3" sensor on the back of the phone this will make my FF DSLR's completely obsolete... We can now add electronics for an AF motor and we have a large format Digital camera with the smartphone capabilities.

The beauty of such system is that the iphone can slide into this system just as a film holder would - in fact the film holders, polaroid holders and iphone would be interchangeable and fully compatible with this system.

I would so buy this camera myself! Should I be calling a patent lawyer?

Not so much for smartphone still shooting, but I think this idea portends many further developments in small wireless videography, starting with security systems with good low light full colour cameras.

Also, a Canon 6D is $2000, $2600 if you get it with a kit lens. The point of the QX10 and QX100 isn't amazing image quality, it's better image quality with more flexibility for picture taking in terms of zoom range + the separation of LCD and camera body.

At first it seems clever, but then you remember that a Panasonic LF1 can connect to a smartphone too (though not clip to it), has its own screen, viewfinder etc and is smaller and cheaper than this, and does raw etc. Which makes it tricky to see the point of this, fun though it might be.

Kudos for the innovation. Best is the compatibility with iOS for my use case: I'm a frequent flyer and still like window seats for the view. Mostly I do hesitate to take a 'real' camera due to noise and bulk and end up shooting with my iPhone. I was already considering the rx100 but didn't need a second camera. This fills the gap extremely well, although I admit this is very niche. I can see other interesting uses depending on the wifi reach too. Nice.

Edit: hope they add iso and more manual controls at least via apps though

Consumer: "If only my cellphone had the zoom range and low light capability of a larger sensor P'n'S"

Sony: "Here's a camera but it has no LCD, so you hold it in one hand and your LCD panel (phone) in the other, or use this kludge adaptor making the whole thing pretty much back to the same size you were just gripping about."

Battery issues of smartphones will quadruple:1) 2x because now 2 battery to care about/recharge (one of them will discharge just as you need to take a photo)2) 2x because constant WiFi streaming of live view will discharge both batteries very quickly. I don't know about QX, but WiFi antennae in smartphones have low gain.

Sony is definately on the cutting edge- just wait and see if they sell bucketfulls of these- I can just see teenagers with these, and alot of others too. Innovative idea, fairly cheap, Sony realizes the phone market is where its at-

actually i think sony made more progress witht he xperia z1 than these two cameras. We finally have a company that put a p&s-sized sensor inside a smartphone that isn't nokia/windows phone. It also has manual controls..

I think this might be a test if the market is ready for a phone with a real camera. Such a phone will be larger and clumsier. Are people willing to accept that? Such phones will be more expensive. Is that acceptable?

More about gear in this article

Originally announced in December 2013, Sony has now made available firmware updates for the QX10 and QX100 cameras that clip on to the front of your smartphone. Version 2.0 adds full HD movie recording and expands ISO settings on both cameras. The QX100 also gains an extra Shutter Priority mode. Get the update

Sony has announced firmware upgrades that enhance the features of its QX-series 'lens-style' cameras, which clip on to the front of your smartphone. The update adds Full HD video recording and an expanded ISO range for both the QX10 and QX100, while the latter also receives a shutter priority mode. Sony's latest PlayMemories Mobile app has more seamless photo browsing and dramatically improved performance on iOS devices. Click through for more.

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